Hat-hook.



A. M. HORTENBAGH.

HAT HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29,1909.

Patented Oct. 12,1909.

ARTHUR M. I-IORTENIBACH, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

HAT-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

Application filed. April 29, 1909. Serial No. 492,942.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR l I. HoRTnN- BACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of devices which are generally known as hat hooks and more particularly to that class of hat hooks which are designed more especially for attachment to the backs of seats or chairs in public places.

The invention has for its object to provide an article of the kind referred to which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability and general efliciency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring-actuated hook which, when not in active use, will automaticallyreturn to a folded position adjacent to the back of the seat to which it is attached so that it will not obstruct or hinder persons desiring to pass between the seats; and furthermore to provide a resilient cushion adapted to receive the impact of the point of the hook when it returns to folded position under the impulse of the spring whereby it is actuated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved supporting means whereby the resilient cushion will be held securely in proper position without any additional fastening.

A still further object of the invention is to equip the hat hook with auxiliary supporting means upon which various articles, such as a coat, a walking-stick, an umbrella and the like may be securely supported without regard to the position occupied by the hat hook proper.

With these and other ends in View, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawing-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention showing the same applied to the back of a seat, said back being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a face .or front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section taken on the line w-w in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device as seen from the lower end. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indi cated by the line yg in Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts of the several figures are indicated by like characters of reference.

In carrying out this invention I provide a base plate 1 preferably made of sheet metal such as brass which, if desired, may be nickel-plated or otherwise protected against corrosion. The plate 1 is reduced or tapered at its lower end to form a relatively narrow projection or tongue 2 which is provided at its side edges with up-turned flanges constituting ears or lugs 3 which are apertured to provide for the passage of a pin or rivet 4 whichserves for the pivotal attachment of the hat hook proper as will be prosently shown.

The hat hook 5, which is likewise to be preferably constructed of sheet metal and which may be of any suitable dimensions, is curved at its outer extremity to produce a beak 6 which, when the hook is mounted in position, points in the direction of the base plate and of the seat-back upon which said base plate is mounted. The sides of the hook are provided with struck-up flanges 8 serving to impart the requisite strength and rigidity to the hook, said flanges being moreover apertured adjacent to the base or lower end of the hook to admit of the passage of bein ad'usted said rivet or )ivot is aroj ected through the coils of a spring 10 which is housed between the ears or lugs 3, and the terminal ends of which abut respectively upon the base plate 1 and upon the heel 13 of the hook which latter is extended some little distance below the pivotal point and is curved slightly outward as will clearly appear in the drawings so that it will be effectively engaged by the spring which latter serves to automatically raise the hook to a position adjacent to the base plate, said position being clearly indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The base plate 1 is provided near its upper end with an aperture 14, the same being surrounded by a struck-u flange 15; this flange serves as a housing or a resilient cushion 16, made preferably of india-rubber, or of some composition containing india-rubber, and preferably of approximately semispherical shape so that the under surface of said cushion which is flat, will lie in registry with the rear or under side of the base plate, while the apex of the cushion projects out- Ward beyond the flanges that constitute the housing. This cushion is so located as to receive the impact of the point or beak of the hook when the latter springs to its folded position.

An auxiliary hook 11 which is in the nature of a resilient or spring clamp, is riveted or otherwise firmly secured upon the outer side or face of the hook proper, a short distance above the point at which the said hook 5 is pivotally connected with the ears 3. The hook or clamp 11 which, as stated, is of a resilient character, is of arcuate form, the point of said hook being directed toward the body of the hook 5 upon which it is mounted. This auxiliary hook will be found extremely convenient to support a coat which may be mounted thereon by means of a hanger with which such garments are usually provided; or the said resilient hook or clamp may be used to accommodate the handle of an umbrella or a walking-stick which will thus be firmly supported without danger of dropping upon the floor and thereby causing disturbance and annoyance. \Vhen the auxiliary hook or clamp 11 only is used, the body of the hat hook 5 will remain in a raised position, with its point in contacting engagement with the cushion 16. If it shall be desired to utilize the hook for the purpose of supporting a hat, said hook is lowered against the tension of the spring 10 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 in the drawings when, the hat being placed in position thereon, the hook will remain in extended position as shown. If the hat should be exceptionally light or not sutliciently heavy to overcome the tension of the spring, the hat hook would be projected some distance toward a closed position, and the hat would thus be lightly clamped and held between the hook and the base plate as is very obvious.

It will thus be seen that the uses of this device are manifold, while the extreme simplicity and inexpensiveness of its construction renders it a valuable adjunct to seats in public places.

It will be particularly noted that no fastening means whatever except the peculiarly constructed base plate of the device are needed to retain the resilient cushion 16 securely in position, thus dispensing with separate fastening means which are both expensive, cumbersome, tending to lessen the resiliency of the cushion, and apt to cause the latter to be split or otherwise materially injured.

Screws or other suitable fastening means, shown at 17 are to be used for securing the base plate in position upon the seat back, the base plate being provided with ordinary counter-sunk apertures for the passage of such fastening means.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. It is simple, inexpensive, and thoroughly etlicient for the purposes for which it is provided.

aving thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a device of the character described, a sheet metal base plate reduced in width at its lower end to form a relatively narrow tongue provided at the sides thereof with integral struck-up flanges constituting pivot cars which are provided with apertures, a sheet metal hook curved in the direction of its length to form a bill and provided with struck-up stiffening flanges that extend from end to end of the hook, said flanges being apertured adjacent the heel of the hook, a pivot extending through the apertured flanges of the hook and the tongue of the base plate, and a sprin coiled upon said pivot and housed between the upstanding flanges of the base plate, the terminal ends of said spring engaging respectively the base plate and the heel of the hook and tending to force the latter to a closed position adjacent to the base plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ARTHUR M. HORTENBACH.

\Vitnesses:

OLIN C. MYnoN, EARL R. NELSON. 

